Platforms, systems, and methods for providing alternative access to goods and services through interaction with ad-based games

Abstract

Computer-based platforms, systems, and methods as well as software applications for providing non-currency alternatives to access goods, services, and/or information through interaction with ad-based games.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented system comprising:
 a. a digital processing device comprising an operating system configured to perform executable instructions and a memory device;   b. a computer program including instructions executable by the digital processing device to create an application for providing a non-currency alternative to access goods, services, or information comprising:
 i. a software module configured to receive input from a user identifying a particular good, service, or information and indicating a request to access the particular good, service, or information via a non-currency alternative payment method; 
 ii. a software module configured to select a game from a database of games, the game based on an ad; 
 iii. a software module configured to present the game to the user and track the user's game play; and 
 iv. a software module configured to provide access to the good, service, or information in response to the user's game play achieving one or more completion criteria. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more completion criteria comprise: earning a minimum number of points, playing or completing a minimum number of games, or being randomly rewarded an instant win. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ad comprises video. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ad comprises one or more images. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the application further comprises a database of ads. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the application further comprises a software module configured to create a game by applying a game template to ad media. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the game comprises an interactive ad. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the goal of the game comprises user demonstration of retention of the content of the ad. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the retention is assessed by one or more of:
 a. answering trivia questions about the content of the ad;   b. sequencing images captured from the content of the ad;   c. matching sound clips to animations or video clips captured from the ad;   d. connecting pieces of playing video together;   e. guiding falling pieces of playing video into the correct positions;   f. rearranging various shapes of video into the proper configuration;   g. selecting predetermined images within the video as the video plays; and   h. clicking or tapping the video after hearing an audio cue.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the good, service, or information comprises one or more songs, videos, movies, books, magazines, articles, TV shows, software applications, virtual goods, virtual currency, discounts, coupons, physical goods, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the good, service, or information comprises a subscription or portion of a subscription cost for a media provider. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the media provider is a mobile/tablet application provider, mobile/tablet game provider, cable provider, telecom provider, wireless service provider, broadcast network provider, digital video provider, digital music provider, digital radio provider, terrestrial radio provider, premium channel provider, news editorial provider, magazine editorial provider, ebook provider, subscription provider, or service provider. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ad or the game is selected based on collected data. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the collected data comprises on one or more of:
 a. user demographic;   b. environment from which the user requested access to the particular good, service, or information;   c. user behavioral action including app downloads, web browsing history, purchase history, coupon redemptions, or engagement with particular media;   d. attributes or metadata of a particular video ad, the attributes or metadata comprising length, subject matter, or content;   e. external, third party data sources selected from: publicly available information, social networks, shopper loyalty programs, data vendors, and proprietary data companies;   f. user survey results; and   g. user historical game play.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the software module configured to present the game to the user and track the user's game play tracks number of plays, time, score, accumulated value, and answers to survey questions posed during game play. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the application further comprises a software module configured to award points or tokens for the user's game play. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the application further comprises a software module configured to create a playlist of games, the playlist comprising a sequence of games, each game selected for the user. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing device is a public kiosk, a media rental machine, a vehicle, a taxi passenger display, an airplane seatback device, an in-vehicle video display, an internet-enabled appliance, an internet-enabled television, or an automated bank teller machine. 
     
     
         19 . Non-transitory computer-readable storage media encoded with a computer program including instructions executable by a processor to create an application for providing a non-currency alternative to access goods, services, or information comprising:
 a) a software module configured to receive input from a user identifying a particular good, service, or information and indicating a request to access the particular good, service, or information via a non-currency alternative payment method;   b) a software module configured to select a game from a database of games, the game based on an ad;   c) a software module configured to present the game to the user and track the user's game play; and   d) a software module configured to provide access to the good, service, or information in response to the user's game play achieving one or more completion criteria.   
     
     
         20 . A computer-implemented method for providing access to goods, services, or information via a non-currency alternative payment method comprising:
 a) receiving, by a computer, input from a user identifying a particular good, service, or information and indicating a request to access the particular good, service, or information via a non-currency alternative payment method;   b) selecting, by the computer, a game from a database of games, the game based on an ad;   c) presenting, by the computer, the game to the user and track the user's game play; and   d) providing, by the computer, access to the good, service, or information in response to the user's game play achieving one or more completion criteria.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the method further comprises creating, by the computer, a playlist of games, the playlist comprising a sequence of games, each game selected for the user.